"There's so much delicious food! I really want to eat it!"
"Judging by the servants' uniforms, they must work at the Water Cloud Pavilion. That place is the most famous restaurant in all of Suotuo City!"
"So the food came from the Water Cloud Pavilion. No wonder it smells so good. My stomach's already growling!"
"Yeah, the Water Cloud Pavilion is so expensive that ordinary people like us can't afford to eat there. I'm so jealous!"
"..."
The Passersby around them were filled with envy for Boss Li.
After all, Boss Li didn't just have delicious food to enjoy.
More importantly, all of it had been carefully selected and brought over by two beautiful women, Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong.
"Come on, bring it inside!" Ning Rongrong ordered, standing with her hands on her hips. "Take all this food into the shop."
Hearing the commotion, Li Haiyun knew that the two beauties, Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing, had returned.
Well rested, he eagerly came out to greet them. "Rongrong, Zhuqing, you're back!"
"Yep! Boss Li, we brought back lots of yummy food!"
Ning Rongrong spoke proudly, like a little child.
Li Haiyun nodded and replied warmly, "I can see that. It smells wonderful—I could smell it from far away!"
Then Ning Rongrong asked, "Boss Li, should we eat in the shop or move everything to the back room?"
"What kind of person eats in the shop? Of course we'll eat in the back room!"
Li Haiyun replied with a serious expression and went ahead to lead the way.
Zhu Zhuqing was going to feed him herself. How could Li Haiyun possibly set their meal up right in the middle of the shop for everyone to see?
The back room, of course!
A moment later,
Li Haiyun led Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, and the Water Cloud Pavilion servants to the room at the back of the shop.
Once they had filled the table with food, the servants from the Water Cloud Pavilion left.
Li Haiyun went to the front of the shop and told the Passersby nearby, "Dear customers, I'm sorry!"
"It's lunchtime, so the shop will be closing for now. You can all head off and get something to eat!"
"I'll open up again this afternoon. You can come back then!"
Li Haiyun's voice was gentle and polite.
The Passersby said their goodbyes and gradually dispersed.
Li Haiyun also closed the shop and, brimming with excitement, went to the back room.
The table was laden with delicious food, all of it steaming and fragrant. Just looking at it made one's mouth water and fingers itch to grab a bite.
"Boss Li, come eat!"
Ning Rongrong called out.
"Boss Li, come on!"
Zhu Zhuqing added softly from the side.
"I'm coming, I'm coming!"
Li Haiyun said with a blissful smile.
There was so much food on the table that it was a feast for the eyes.
Grilled beef, year cake stir-fried with pork, century-old brine duck, spicy chicken heads, Minced Meat Ginseng Soup, lotus-leaf shrimp congee, carp stewed with tofu, crispy braised soft-shelled turtle bursting with juices, pearls braised on a golden platter, jade-green bird's nest, chilled watermelon, and more.
The whole table was filled with hearty dishes, each one whetting the appetite.
The meat dishes in particular looked so tender and delicious!
"Zhuqing, Rongrong, you've worked hard. I really do appreciate it!"
Before they began eating, Li Haiyun thanked them politely.
"Boss Li, why are you thanking us?" Ning Rongrong said bluntly. "You gave us Mission Cards and helped us get stronger. We should be the ones thanking you!"
Zhu Zhuqing nodded in agreement beside her. "Rongrong's right. We're the ones who should thank you, Boss Li. This meal is just a little token of appreciation from the two of us!"
"Good! Good! Good!" Li Haiyun said, repeating the word three times, his smile growing wider.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries,
Ning Rongrong got down to business. "Boss Li, don't eat yet. Let Zhuqing feed you... It's her mission! All you have to do is open your mouth!"
As she spoke, Ning Rongrong glanced at Zhu Zhuqing and gave her an encouraging look. "Zhuqing, you can do it!"
"Mm." Zhu Zhuqing nodded to Ning Rongrong.
Then, her cheeks blushing, she turned to Li Haiyun and said softly, "Boss Li, let me feed you. It's partly to complete the mission and partly to repay your kindness. Please don't refuse."
Only a foolish, stubborn man would turn down an opportunity like this...
Li Haiyun, a man who understood the bigger picture, nodded firmly and replied warmly, "If that's the case, I'll gladly accept. Zhuqing, don't feel too much pressure. I'll do my part, too!"
"Mm, Boss Li. I understand," Zhu Zhuqing said with a slight nod.
Just then,
Ning Rongrong looked eager to volunteer. "How about it, Boss Li? Let Zhuqing and me feed you together...!"
Ning Rongrong had suggested it mainly to help her good friend Zhu Zhuqing feel less awkward.
Besides, there were three of them here.
If Zhu Zhuqing fed Boss Li while Ning Rongrong had nothing to do, she'd be bored.
### Li Haiyun couldn't help but freeze when he heard her. He wondered if he'd misheard.
Ning Rongrong hadn't received a mission to feed him lunch.
And she wanted to feed him, too?!
That had genuinely never occurred to Li Haiyun.
Zhu Zhuqing, standing nearby, froze as well. She hadn't expected her good friend Ning Rongrong to make such a request.
Could Rongrong have fallen for Boss Li?
The thought even crossed Zhu Zhuqing's mind.
Seeing the surprised looks on Li Haiyun and Zhu Zhuqing's faces,
Ning Rongrong cleared her throat and said seriously, "What? Zhuqing, you can't expect me to just stand there watching while you feed Boss Li!"
"Let's feed Boss Li lunch together!"
"That way, Boss Li, you'll get twice the good fortune, right?"
Twice the good fortune?
Li Haiyun's eyes lit up at that.
He truly hadn't expected Ning Rongrong to be so good to him, willing to let him experience twice the happiness.
Zhu Zhuqing nodded. "I don't mind. It's just whether Boss Li is willing..."
Ning Rongrong licked her lips and smiled. "Boss Li, if you turn down an opportunity like this, you might as well not be a man!"
As she spoke, she deliberately pushed out her chest.
After all, she was the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's cherished young lady.
Someone of her noble status had lowered herself to feed him lunch.
In Ning Rongrong's mind, no man would refuse such a wonderful opportunity.
Li Haiyun cleared his throat and replied seriously, "I'm a respectable man... But you're right, Rongrong. If I turned down an opportunity like this, I really wouldn't be much of a man...!"
Ning Rongrong smiled sweetly. "Exactly, exactly. You're absolutely right, Boss Li!"
"Then Zhuqing and I will feed you lunch together and complete the mission together."
"Boss Li, remember to give us the 'best' rating afterward!"
Li Haiyun was surprised by Ning Rongrong's actions.
But when he thought about it, it made sense.
After all, he had sold her Mission Cards and helped her grow stronger!
And since her good friend Zhu Zhuqing was feeding him as part of a mission, perhaps Ning Rongrong felt left out and wanted to join in.
It cost her nothing.
Feeding someone a few bites wasn't anything shameful.
Heaven knew, earth knew, and the three of them knew!
Besides, Li Haiyun seemed refined and easygoing. He wasn't the sort of gossiping busybody who went around spreading stories.
So Ning Rongrong had little reason to worry.
Li Haiyun remembered that in the original story, Ning Rongrong had once said things like, "This lady has bread." He felt even more at ease about what the Little Demoness was doing.
He was the one enjoying himself. Why fuss over the details?
"Sure. I'll rate you based on how well you do. Then I'll be counting on you, Rongrong and Zhuqing!"
Li Haiyun gave them a gentle smile.
"Then we'll begin!"
Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong said together.
Zhu Zhuqing picked up her chopsticks, took a piece of grilled lamb, and said, "This grilled lamb is one of the Water Cloud Pavilion's signature dishes. Please try it!"
Li Haiyun opened his mouth and took a bite. It tasted quite good, and he praised it. "The meat is tender and delicious."
Just then,
Ning Rongrong scooped up a spoonful of Minced Meat Ginseng Soup and said gently, "Boss Haiyun, here~ Have a sip of soup~"
Her voice was so soft it made one's bones melt.
Was this the kind of happiness King Zhou could only experience when being served by Daji?!
Li Haiyun was thrilled. He lightly touched his lips to the ginseng soup, then pulled back and said seriously, "This soup's a little too hot...!"
Ning Rongrong froze for a moment.
Then a lovely smile appeared on her face. She brought the spoon to her lips and gently blew on it, cooling the steam.
When it seemed cool enough,
Ning Rongrong brought the Minced Meat Ginseng Soup back to Li Haiyun's lips.
Rongrong really knows how to take care of people! Li Haiyun was impressed.
He quickly drank a mouthful of ginseng soup and said politely, "Thank you."
He had just finished his soup when Zhu Zhuqing began feeding him again, holding out a piece of lotus-leaf shrimp with her chopsticks.
Li Haiyun felt incredibly happy.
He was practically free of any effort, with food delivered straight to his mouth. It was pure bliss.
The entire room was filled with the fragrance of the food.
At the same time,
As Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong fed him from close by,
Li Haiyun could also catch the faint, warm fragrance of the two young women. It smelled wonderful.
Time passed by, little by little.
Before long.